You did say you have an LX200. It points automatically to objects with the hand controller. But you also have to sync on a star first (in polar mode) to get the accuracy good. Might want to take a stroll through the manual one more time...

I gave up on the automatic polar alignment. Three attempts in a month, I went by the instructions. I push this button pressed that one. Capella and Sirius were the alignment stars. It says 'alignment complete'. I ask it to slew to M-42 and took off to the north. Setting circles have always been my friend. Perhaps the declination disc markings are off at time of production. Machines can make errors. Humans cannot.